MCFADDEN: POSITION NOT AN ISSUE ON ROAD TO NFL

He changed positions as a San Diego State freshman in the fall of 2009, became arguably the best cornerback in the Mountain West, helped his team win a conference title and is now scheduled, in about two months, to be drafted into the NFL.

Not a bad road to the league’s combine. But, he believes, there was another.

The wide receivers ran Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium, where one player created buzz with a 40-yard dash time that first was and then was not faster than the event record. Hours later, McFadden said he thinks he would have been part of that group if things just went a little bit differently a few years ago.

If he never changed positions, he’d still be headed to the NFL, he says.

Just as a wide receiver instead.

“I would have because I would have pushed myself to the edge,” McFadden said. “That’s my character. Making the decision to go to cornerback, I’ve never regretted it. They gave me a three-day tryout. I did it and never looked back. I love it.”

McFadden will have his on-field workout on Tuesday.

He spent Sunday being picked and pulled this way and that during a mandatory medical evaluation. He had seven formal interviews scheduled with different teams, and he already met with others last month at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala.

He missed the game because of a minor groin strain. The ailment isn’t expected to further restrict the 22-year-old, who plans to participate in all drills and tests. He’ll first do the bench press and undergo psychological testing today.

McFadden said many teams have asked him if he has played nickel cornerback before.

“That’s something I wouldn’t mind playing and something I will have to learn, obviously, because I didn’t play it in college,” McFadden said. “I’m willing to take that task on.”

Mayock on Aztecs

Two former Aztecs could go in the draft’s first three rounds, an NFL Network analyst said in a Sunday press conference.

Mike Mayock projected McFadden will go in the third, “plus or minus.” After the meeting with reporters, he said he would’ve graded tight end Gavin Escobar much higher if he ran the 40 a few ticks faster.

Escobar was timed Saturday at 4.84 seconds.

“If the kid ran 4.6, I’d have been talking about first round,” Mayock said. “But now, you got to figure that out. I don’t know what to do.”

Mayock said he liked what he saw from McFadden during the Senior Bowl practice week, specifically that he had “quick feet” and “showed what he needed to.”

The analyst had high expectations for Escobar’s speed based on game film.

“I promise you: He’s a gifted kid catching the football,” Mayock said. “He’s gifted — special gifted. ... I like both of those kids a lot. I was just a little surprised what Escobar ran.”

Notable

Utah defensive tackle Star Lotulelei, considered one of the top players in this year’s NFL Draft, has a heart condition that was detected when he was examined at the Scouting Combine, ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reported. Because of those findings, Lotulelei will not go through workouts in Indianapolis and will return to Utah to undergo more tests.

• Kenny Stills, former Oklahoma wide receiver and a La Costa Canyon High grad, ran the 40 in 4.38 seconds Sunday, tied for fourth fastest at his position.

• Ex-Auburn running back Onterio McCalebb appeared to set a new NFL Combine 40 record, earning a time of 4.21 seconds. It was later adjusted to 4.34. Titans running back Chris Johnson owns the mark of 4.24, set in 2008.